Bangkok--1 Feb--SET
The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) announces a key marketing campaign, called “Investment Nationwide,” in order to expand the retail investor base outside of Bangkok, by joining with the Association of Thai Securities Companies (ASCO) to present financially-related knowledge to local investors and increase the number of investment advisors in ten main cities throughout the country. SET expects to boost the proportion of provincial investor accounts to 20 percent of all retail investor accounts over the next three years.
At the end of 2012, there were the total 797,326 securities accounts of retail investors. Of that, 657,476 accounts, or 82.46 percent, were in Bangkok, while there were 139,850 accounts, or 17.54 percent, in the provinces. The 2012 overall trading valuation was THB 15.83 trillion, of which 90.26 percent was in Bangkok and 9.74 percent in the provinces.
SET President Charamporn Jotikasthira, said that to expand the investor base and build quality investors, SET plans to do marketing activities and train investors in 10 provinces, which are Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Chonburi, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Ratchasima, Phitsanulok, Songkhla, Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, and Udon Thaini, throughout the year.
“So far, the expansion into provinces has been fueled due partly to the strong growth of the stock market over the last two years, boosting the number of investors. In addition, the upcoming establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community has helped expand the national and provincial economies, drawing more interest from potential investors. The Thai capital market then has to be ready to cover demand of investors and personnel in the capital market,” Charamporn said.
Under the campaign, SET will use the “Investment for beginners” concept for its annual roadshow in the provinces, for Money Expo in five provinces, and for the “SET-TFEX connects regions for investment” events, to be held twice this year. The concept is to provide information and guidelines to select investment options, including stocks, derivatives, and funds, as well as to broaden access to learning sources via web sites, e-learning, programs and trading simulation for new investors.
In addition, Thailand Securities Institute (TSI), under the SET group, will continue establishing SET Investment Centers (SET ICs) in universities by setting up new centers and improving the existing centers to serve college students, teachers, personnel, and the general public in each part of the country. SET IC will be a center for holding events by local brokers and other organizations, such as “Gathering savers on stocks” and “SET Young Generation: Post-training, new graduates, to pay attention to finance.”
SET expects to attract a total of 50,000 participants and create 8,000 transactions for the all mentioned events in 2013.
Pattera Dilokrungthirapop, Chairman of ASCO, said that the association has coordinated with all securities companies to jointly and continuously provide knowledge and host marketing activities with SET and SET ICs to a broad range of audiences. It also plans to expand the number of investment consultants in the provinces from the current 3,000 persons out of a total of 7,500 by cooperating with ASCO Training Institute and TSI to co-train and provide examinations to qualify for licenses in each category in order to produce a sufficient number of qualified professionals and upgrade the quality of services received. These services should help boost their capabilities to manage portfolios and create wealth for customers efficiently. In addition, ASCO will join with brokers to build inspiration for careers in the securities industry and create personnel networks in each region of Thailand to exchange experiences and host investment activities together.
In the first quarter of this year, SET will join with broker-partners to hold activities and inform investors in three provinces, which are 1) “Money Expo” in Pattaya on February 15-17 at Royal Cliff Hotel, 2) “SET-TFEX connect regions towards investment” in Chiang Rai on March 2, at Dusit Island Hotel, and 3) Money Expo in Hat Yai on March 15-17 at Songkhlanakarin Convention Center.
For more information, please contact SET Call Center at 0 2229 2222 or website www.set.or.th and mobile app “SETactivity”